ONE LESS SCANDALOUS EARL: Bluestockings Defying Rogues Book Six Read online

  Marian nodded. “If you insist.” She turned to Kaitlin. “Are you ready for tea?”

  Kaitlin glanced over at Samantha and then back at Marian. They had been at Marian’s townhouse for an hour now and her cousin still had said nothing of import. It had been all gossip and talk about the weather. She was growing bored with their discourse. Surely Marian would tell them her good news soon. “Tea would be lovely,” she said. Kaitlin didn’t make a scene. She’d always been the quiet one, and she was all right with that.

  Samantha poured tea into two cups and prepared each one how they liked it. Kaitlin liked hers a little sweet and Marian preferred a splash of milk. After the tea was ready, she carried over the cups on saucers and handed them to them. Kaitlin held the saucer in her hand and lifted the teacup in the other. She sipped on the tea and then closed her eyes in pleasure. There was nothing like a decent cup of tea. “It’s perfect.”

  Samantha picked up her own cup and then sat next to Kaitlin on the settee. “Now that we’re all in possession of refreshments perhaps Marian can quit stalling and tell us her big announcement.”

  Marian had been mid sip when Samantha made that statement. She started to cough and waved her hand in front of her face. Kaitlin took her cup and set it on a nearby table then went back to her. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine.” She wheezed out the words as she coughed some more. “Need to catch…my…breath.”

  Kaitlin frowned and glared up at Samantha. “You have no patience.”

  “I never claimed to have any.” She shrugged lightly.

  Marian managed to get her breathing under control. She held her hand up to her throat and tapped at it a little. “How do you know?” She narrowed her gaze and pinned Samantha with it. “And next time, please show some consideration and wait long enough for me to actually swallow the sip of tea before you make such a frank statement.”

  Kaitlin’s lips twitched. Some things never really changed… “Since you are clearly able to breathe properly now, I don’t suppose you can explain to me what Samantha is referring to?”

  “I’m…” She took a deep breath and then continued, “expecting…”

  “Expecting what?” Kaitlin asked, and then Samantha started laughing. “Oh… Please forget I asked that.” She felt a little bit ignorant for even broaching the topic. Especially when she suspected that Marian was enceinte. She didn’t understand why she hadn’t made an announcement yet.

  Marian smiled. “We’ve been trying for a while now.” Her cheeks turned pink as she spoke. “But, uh…”

  “Say no more.” Samantha grinned. “We can infer from that.”

  “Jonas is thrilled, as am I,” she said. “And a little scared.”

  Kaitlin sat back down on the settee. Now that she knew Marian would be fine, she didn’t see any reason to stand around. Besides, she had no idea what to add to this conversation. She didn’t expect she’d ever marry. No one noticed her. For a brief time, she thought perhaps the Earl of Asthey might court her, but he abruptly stopped paying her any attention. Though she supposed she could be interpreting his actions incorrectly.

  She didn’t know anything about gentlemen or how to flirt with them. That was more Samantha’s forte. She didn’t have any trouble gaining a gentleman’s attention. Samantha’s problem was her brother, the Earl of Shelby. He scared off most of her suitors and made finding a husband difficult for her friend.

  “Don’t worry about a thing,” Samantha said with a wave of her hand. “I’ll help where I can.”

  “Sam,” Marian said with a shocked tone to her voice. “You’re an innocent. I can’t have you anywhere near this pregnancy. It…”

  “Don’t be a nitwit,” Samantha said. “I’ve read plenty of books on the subject and so has Kaitlin.”

  Marian turned to glance at Kaitlin. Drat. Why did Samantha have to sell her out? She’d gotten curious and studied some of Marian’s medical journals. They were fascinating, and she was finally starting to understand why Marian wished to be a doctor. Not that Kaitlin desired the same thing. Some of the things she’d learned about the human body was…disgusting. She’d rather not deal with any of that. “I am not certain I understand what Samantha is implying.” Maybe she could pretend ignorance. No one, except the two ladies with her in the room, would ever question her. Because they didn’t actually notice her…

  “Don’t play the sly chit with us,” Samantha chastised her. “You may be shy and quiet as a mouse in public, but we have seen your more hoydenish side.”

  She crinkled her nose. “I’m never a hoyden. Don’t be ridiculous. That word describes you more than it has ever defined me.”

  “I’ve always thought of her as a hellion myself,” a male with a deep rich baritone said as he entered the room.

  They all turned toward the sound. Three gentlemen stood in the entrance. One was Lord Harrington, Marian’s husband. The other two were his closest friends, Lord Shelby and Lord Asthey. The one that had spoken was Samantha’s brother, Shelby.

  “You have no room to censure me in any fashion considering your own roguish behavior.” Samantha glared at her brother.

  “Well,” Shelby began. He stopped briefly and winked at Kaitlin. He’d caught her staring at him… Why did he have to be so gorgeous? His hair was as dark as sin itself, and his eyes were so blue they almost sparkled. Probably from all the mischief he partook in. “Why should I stop doing something I am quite proficient with? It would devastate the ladies…”

  “Do not finish that sentence,” Samantha commanded as she stepped toward Shelby.

  The Earl of Harrington ran his hand through his chestnut locks and sighed. “Sheathe your claws,” he said. “I’d rather not have any bloodshed or disturbance of any kind in front of my wife.”

  Samantha calmed down at his words. “All right. I’ll concede this isn’t where I should have this conversation with my brother.” Shelby’s lips twitched into a sinful smile. Kaitlin’s heart stirred a little. He was so handsome and charming… Samantha didn’t notice her brother’s smile though. It would be awkward if she had. She wagged her finger at him though as if lecturing a small child. “After all, I wouldn’t want to be responsible for anything happening to Marian or the baby.”

  “Marian’s having a baby?” Asthey said with a shocked tone. “Why am I always the last to know.”

  Kaitlin sighed. High tea had taken an unexpected turn. Clearly Jonas and Marian hadn’t been quite ready to impart their good tidings yet. Samantha needed to learn when to hold her tongue and when to speak. Something Kaitlin doubted she’d ever quite master…

  Gregory inwardly groaned. If Harrington was going to be a father, that changed everything… His marriage had been the first step in that direction, and now, Harrington had ensured he’d be forever tied to home and hearth. He didn’t blame his friend. Harrington loved his wife, and in some ways, Gregory was jealous of that. Oh, he didn’t want a wife or children, but he liked the idea of love.

  He’d realized early on something as enormous as love would not be part of his life. That would be more responsibility than Gregory ever wanted to tangle with. He had several vices, but his favorites were an unending supply of brandy and wanton women. He’d likely have to give up the first if he married and undoubtedly would have to give up the second. A wife liked a husband who doted on her. He shuddered at the possibility. Sure, there were plenty of ton marriages that didn’t have love in them, but if he ever shackled himself to a woman, he wanted something more than a business arrangement. He had no desire to experience a cold bed with a bit of unhappiness thrown in.

  Gregory glanced at Asthey and upbraided him, “Don’t be surly.” Then he set his gaze upon his sister and glared at her. “I could be wrong, but that is probably a secret no one should have been privy to yet.”

  Samantha rolled her eyes. “How was I to know Lord Harrington didn’t trust his own friends with his good news.”

  Sometimes he wanted to strangle his sister. If he didn’t love he
r, he might have when they were children. “Perhaps,” he began. “It would have behooved you to keep a secret that isn’t yours to tell.” Acerbity etched through every word he spoke.

  Gregory stepped toward his sister, but Lady Kaitlin Evans stepped in front of him. “Lord Shelby,” she said in a shaky tone. “Would you like some tea?”

  “Tea?” He stared at her uncertain what game she played. “No, I don’t want tea.” Lady Kaitlin usually didn’t speak to him. He didn’t want to be rude to her either. She was a shy mouse who unfortunately allowed his sister to browbeat her into activities she wouldn’t otherwise participate in. “Please step aside.”

  “No,” she replied defiantly. “I must insist you not have a row with your sister. The excitement might prove too difficult for Marian, and we must consider her condition.”

  Gregory inwardly cringed and worked to calm himself down. “I’d never hurt my own sister.”

  Lady Kaitlin nodded. “I do realize that, my lord, but a raised voice is not unheard of between the two of you.”

  “She is right,” Asthey said. “I’ve witnessed more disagreements between you and Lady Samantha than any person should be subjected to.”

  “Ahem,” Lady Marian cleared her throat. “Perhaps Kaitlin has the right of it. If tea isn’t to your liking, perhaps Jonas can pour you a spot of brandy instead.”

  Lord Harrington met his wife’s gaze and then returned his attention to Gregory and Asthey. “Perhaps we can continue our conversation in my study.”

  “No,” Gregory said, dismissing Harrington’s suggestion. “I’d like to stay here with the ladies.” He turned toward Lady Marian. “If you’ll accept my apologies and felicitations on your good news.”

  “Of course,” Lady Marian said amiably. She looked at Harrington. “Brandy for the men and tea for the ladies.”

  Harrington nodded and went to a nearby decanter, where he filled three glasses then handed one to Asthey. He went back and picked up the other two glasses and carried one over to Gregory. “I promise I’ll behave,” he told his friend. Gregory lifted his glass and held it high. “A toast to the future Harrington heir.”

  “You don’t know it’ll be a boy,” Harrington said.

  “Either way, it’s happy tidings, and we should celebrate.”

  They all held their drinks high and toasted to the birth of Lord and Lady Harrington’s first child. Gregory sipped his brandy. It burned nicely as it slid down his throat. Harrington and Asthey had wandered off to the side of the room and were deep in a conversation. He didn’t really care to discern what they were talking about. He leaned against the wall and continued to sip his brandy. It was the safest course of action considering how he’s almost lost control of his temper again.

  He had to work harder on keeping it reined. Gregory hated how easy it was for him to give into his barely tethered rage. He glanced around the room. Samantha and Lady Marian had their heads together discussing something, and he prayed his sister was receiving a lecture she might actually listen to.

  Lady Kaitlin sat by herself in a chair near the other two ladies. She didn’t speak and hadn’t even sipped her tea. Gregory was intrigued, but didn’t act on it. He could easily go speak to her. Chastise her for stepping in front of him on the brink of a rage, but he didn’t have the right to do such a thing. Lady Kaitlin was not his relation, and he certainly didn’t want to court her. He was the last person that should ever court a lady, and definitely not one so benevolent as Lady Kaitlin Evans. She deserved far better than the likes of him. So he stayed where he was and resigned himself to a long lonely life.

  Chapter 3

  There were a handful of social events remaining for the season. Of course, there would be some summer house parties to attend, but for the most part, Kaitlin would be free from obligations. Still, she wasn’t so sure that would be good for her. When left alone, she tended to withdraw into herself, and without Marian or Samantha to urge her to explore the outside world, Kaitlin doubted she’d leave the townhouse. Her heart raced and her stomach fluttered at the very idea of socializing. If she had any chance of finding a husband, she had to find a way of overcoming her anxiety.

  “What has ye lost in thought?” her maid asked in a heavy Scottish accent. Mollie was twisting Kaitlin’s hair into an elaborate chignon. Soon she would have to leave for the Loxton end of the season ball.

  “It’s nothing,” she said nonchalantly as she stared at herself blandly in the looking glass. Kaitlin often spoke with her maid in a less formal way. She relied on Mollie to help dress her and present herself in the best way possible. In some ways, Mollie was her closest friend. Yes, Kaitlin was close to Samantha and Marian. She could tell them anything, but sometimes she felt—alone. They were not with her nearly as much as Mollie. Kaitlin relied on her maid for so much. “Maybe we should do something more with my hair.”

  “Such as?”

  She swallowed hard. Kaitlin didn’t know why it was so difficult for her to voice anything she truly wanted. If she was uncertain, it was even worse. “My mother’s pearl comb or her sapphire diadem.”

  “The diadem would match yer eyes and compliment yer gown,” Mollie said thoughtfully. “I’ll retrieve it and pin it securely into yer hair.” She finished fastening Kaitlin’s blonde locks into place, then went to retrieve the jeweled headband. She brought it back and placed it over her hair so it resembled a cerulean crown sparkling against her golden hair. “There,” Mollie said. “Yer simply beautiful, my lady. Stand up now and we’ll get ye into yer dress.”

  Kaitlin did as she directed as Mollie retrieved her indigo gown. It was one of Kaitlin’s favorite dresses. It was a deep blue silk overlapping ivory silk in the center and trimmed with silver ribbons and tiny seed pearls along the bodice. She stepped into the gown and then Mollie pulled it up over her chemise. Kaitlin slipped her arms into the short, ruffled sleeves. Mollie fastened all the tiny buttons and tied the silk ribbon at top edge of the bodice into a billowy bow against her back. “There you’re all ready. All you need is to slide on your dancing slippers, and you can meet Lady Marian in the foyer.”

  Her cousin acted as her chaperone now that she was considered a matron. They no longer needed anyone to accompany them, but Lord Harrington often attended the functions Marian chose to attend. Neither one of them liked being separated from each other, and Kaitlin found that habit of theirs sweet. Maybe one day she’d find someone to love her too.

  She went to the chair on the far side of the room where her slippers were. Kaitlin lifted the edge of her gown and slid her left foot into the first slipper and repeated the action with her other foot. “Thank you, Mollie,” she said. “Enjoy your evening. I’ll see you when I return home.”

  “Have a wonderful time, my lady,” she told her. “Do try to dance. A pretty lass shouldn’t spend the entire evening in the corner.”

  “No promises,” Kaitlin replied solemnly. She rarely danced, and she spent more times sitting in the corner watching than she liked to admit. Mollie listened to her bemoan her fate and hated that Kaitlin didn’t try to be more social. It wasn’t in her nature to be the diamond that stood out amongst all the other ladies in attendance. No one noticed her, and most of the time she was all right with that. Sometimes though she wished one of the gentlemen would glance her way and take a risk. Even when she wasn’t brave enough to do it herself.

  “One day you’ll meet a man who sees you for the beautiful, kind, lady you are, and he’ll find himself unable to look away again.”

  “Perhaps.” Kaitlin doubted it. “That day may never come though, and I will have to accept that I am meant to be alone.” That hurt to admit and actually say aloud. “My brother will marry some day, and I’ll be a wonderful spinster aunt.”

  “Nonsense.” Mollie pursed her lips up in displeasure and shook her head defiantly. “Yer meant for more than that. Not that ye won’t be a lovely auntie to Lord Frossly’s children, but ye need bairns of yer own.”

  Kaitlin sighed. She would lo
ve to have a family of her own. That would prove difficult if she couldn’t manage to come out of the shadows and find a gentleman to marry. Flirting was too hard, and she failed at it every time she attempted. “Trust me, it’s better this way. This mythical gentleman doesn’t exist.” She headed to the door. “Now I really must leave. Marian will be here soon, and I don’t want to keep her waiting.”

  “Fine,” Mollie said, her voice indicating she was upset with her. “But I do believe ye will find love. Once ye open yerself up to it, it will find you. The trouble is ye are unable to imagine yourself in love or a gentleman loving ye.”

  Marian didn’t bother replying to that. She feared that her maid was very much correct. If she allowed herself to dream of love—and a handsome gentleman willing to give her his heart as he deftly stole her—it would probably lead to empty promises and a broken heart. Kaitlin wasn’t the type gentleman loved or fought for. She didn’t inspire anything from anyone. She was the very definition of wallflower. Unnoticeable, unremarkable, and unworthy of their attention.

  Gregory sat in the card room at the Loxton ball staring at the cards that had been dealt him. He was going to win, but it didn’t make him happy. Nothing sparked anything remotely joyful in him anymore. He should leave the ball and go back to the club. At least there he could find something less sedate to entertain himself with. He wasn’t even certain why he’d decided to attend the ball. Samantha didn’t need him to chaperone her. She could have accompanied Harrington and his wife. His friend wouldn’t have minded looking after Gregory’s sister.

  Not that Gregory made that great of a chaperone. For the most part, he allowed Samantha to do as she pleased. He’d already made it known to the gentlemen of the ton that, if they overstepped, they’d pay a steep price. He’d had to participate in one duel and two bouts of fisticuffs to make sure the message was understood. It helped that one of the gentlemen who Gregory had pummeled had been one of his friends, the Earl of Darcy. The earl hadn’t understood why Gregory had objected to him courting Samantha. Darcy wasn’t really interested in a love match with Samantha, and Gregory had seen that quite clearly. Now that Darcy was happily married, perhaps he did comprehend why Gregory had been so adamant against his courtship.